Mail-pouch closure and fastening.



N0. $59,796. 7 Patented Oct. [6. I900. G. GAVIN &. W. E. GREFFIN.

MAIL POUCH CLOSURE AND FASTENING.

(Application filed May 8, 1900.) (No Model.)

me scams FETER$ 00., Puofouwa. WASHINGTON, D c.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE GAVIN, OF EUREKA, AND WATSON E. GRIFFIN, OF RENO, NEVADA,

ASSIGNORS TO THE SAFETY MAIL POUCH FASTENER EUREKA, NEVADA.

COMPANY, OF

MAIL-POUCH CLOSURE AND FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,796, dated October 16, 1900.

Application filed May 8, 1900. Serial No. 15,934., (No model.)

To aZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE GAVIN, residing at Eureka, county of Eureka, and TAT- SON E. GRIFFIN, residing at Reno, county of \Vashoe, State of Nevada, citizens of the United States, have invented an Improvement in Mail-Pouch Closures and Fastenings; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The object of our invention is to provide a novel and improved closure and fastening for the mouths of mail-pouches.

It consists in the application of front and rear slotted plates centrally located, similar plates fixed upon the outer edges of the pouch, and a central plate secured to the front of the pouch below the previously-named plates, having a staple fixed to and projecting outwardly from it, over which staple all of the other plates are folded to overlap, so that a single lock or fastening through the project ing staple secures the mouth of the pouch.

On r invention also comprises details of construction,which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a View showing the mail-pouch in an open position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing the pouch closed and locked.

The object of our invention is to provide a compact, easily-manipulated, and secure fastening for mail-pouches with the least numberof locks, staples, and movable parts. This we efiect by attaching slotted plates at proper points upon the front and rear sides of the mouth of the pouch and folding them with relation to each other so that they are all concentrated and the slots fit over a single centrally-located staple, whereby a single lock secures the whole.

A represents a mail-pouch of any suitable ordinary construction, and as here shown, the mouth of the pouch consists of the front 2 and the back 3. Upon the back is strongly riveted the metal plate 4, having a slot made vertically through it. Upon the front is riveted a similarly-slotted plate 5. Upon each end of the month are riveted the horizontallyslotted plates 6 and 7. As here shown, the plate 6 is riveted to the front flap of the mouth and the plate 7 to the rear flap. Below the plate 5 is a plate 8, having a staple 9 fixed centrally in it and projecting to the front.

The material of which the pouch is formed may be canvas, leather, or other flexible material, and in order to close the mouth of the pouch the outer angles are folded inwardly, the line of the fold extendiag from the sides toward the center and ending upon each side with the top of the central plate 5, so that when the outer angles are folded down the plate 6 will pass over the staple 9 and the plate 7 will then be folded down over the plate 6, extending also over the fold of the material from the other side. The exterior angle of the fold from the side toward the center at the top is approximately forty-five degrees. The plate 8 and the staple 9 are located at a considerable distance below the plates 4 and 5 to leave a space of flexible material which allows for a horizontal fold of that portion to which these plates are secured, so that the sides having been first folded in, as previously described, the top is then folded down so that the slots in the front and back plates will pass over the staple. The back plate 4 has its edge projecting slightly beyond the top of the back section of the pouch and is bent over, as shown at 10, so that when it has been folded down over the staple it also curves toward the body of the pouch, thus covering and protecting the horizontal edges of the folded portion. The parts being thus folded, a single lock is passed through the stapleand the whole pouch is secured.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

A mail-pouch having the outer upper angles of the open end folded inwardly and downwardly to meet at the center, slotted plates fixed to said angles adapted to overlap, with the slots registering, a staple fixed to the central portion of the front of the pouch over which the slotted plates are passed, other slotted plates fixed to the center and top of the pouch and foldable overthe previouslyfolded portions whereby the slots in said plates are also passed over the staple in position to be secured by a lock, the rear central' top plate having its edge projecting beyond the back section of the pouch and bent over whereby when said section is folded into position the bent edge of the plate passes helow and covers and protects the edges of the other plate and the edges of the folded portion of the pouch.

In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands.

GEORGE GAVIN. WATSON E. GRIFFIN.

Witnesses:

GEO- A. BARTLETT, W. J. HOOPER. 

